Wabanaki Tribes awarded nearly $1M to expand broadband connections

Photo / Courtesy Maine Connectivity Authority The Passamaquoddy Workforce Recovery and Community Connection Office will expand the current youth wellness court and adult education building.

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By Laurie Schreiber

Maine’s five Wabanaki Tribes were awarded a total of $960,000 to improve broadband connectivity programs in their communities.

The Maine Connectivity Authority’s board of directors approved the awards last week.

The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Mi’kmaq Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkomikuk and Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik will each receive $190,000. The Penobscot Nation will receive $200,000, according to a news release.

The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians will use the funds to support one full-time position and two part-time positions that will provide one-on-one ongoing assistance to connect residents to affordable internet, devices and digital skills training, and to work directly with the youth of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians in all digital activities and skill-building curriculum.

Photo / Courtesy Maine Connectivity Authority

The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians’ Connectivity Hub will enhance the youth center.

The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians also won an award for $1.2 million earlier this year through the Maine Connectivity Authority’s Connectivity Hubs program.

The hub is a dedicated space for teenagers and physical activities, designed to enhance the community’s youth center. A renovation will establish a specialized area tailored to teen needs providing academic, emotional and physical support in a safe community environment. The facility will also offer high-speed fiber internet, on-site device access and lending, digital skills classes and internet safety education, with the goal of preparing youth for the workforce

The award to the Mi'kmaq Nation will support three part-time positions that host digital skills classes, assist with technical support and develop and implement a device access program. Additional digital inclusion activities planned include a continued partnership with the National Digital Equity Center, exploring local affordability solutions for achieving broadband access for all and conducting a Tribal broadband survey to understand the needs for internet access, devices, and/or digital skills training.

The Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkomikuk will use its award to support one full-time position that will coordinate with partners across the community, including the Tribal health department, emergency management, youth recreation, Four Directions Development Corp. and the National Digital Equity Center.

Additional digital inclusion activities planned include the introduction of a computer lab in the community youth space, a free device program and a digital language revitalization initiative.

Earlier this year, the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkomikuk also won an award for nearly $550,000 through MCA's Connectivity Hubs program. The connectivity facility will expand the current youth wellness court and adult education building, allowing the expanded services of workforce recovery programming, a Tribal broadband office and a teleconference room.

The facility will also provide access to high-speed fiber internet, on-site public devices, a device lending program, technical support services, and digital skills and internet safety education opportunities.

The award to the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik will support three part-time positions to provide digital skills training and technical support, and to coordinate with the local housing authority, education department, health center and other digital equity partners.

Additional digital inclusion activities planned include quarterly goals for reaching Tribal members with digital skills classes and direct one-on-one support, monthly outreach activities with Tribal departments and ensuring affordable broadband access for all.

The Penobscot Nation will use its award to support one full-time position to coordinate with the agencies across the community, including the education and career service department, IT department, health department and youth program. Additional digital inclusion activities planned include a device program, digital skills training, technical support and ensuring affordable broadband access for all.

Building capacity

The awards were part of $3.2 million granted overall by the Maine Connectivity Authority to 18 regional and Tribal partners.

The authority has so far awarded $8.8 million in three years. The previous two years focused on investing directly into the digital infrastructure required to establish an internet connection.

This MCA says this year’s round focuses on investing in people to build capacity and knowledge within organizations, and to advance programs, partnerships and projects supporting covered populations as defined by the Digital Equity Act.